Already and not yet
The idea of “already and not yet” has been helping me make sense of things lately.
Theology fans will recognize the phrase as having roots in Christianity. (Very briefly, it has to do with the Kingdom of God—and specifically the belief that Christians already experience, but do not yet fully commune with God’s perfection.)
However, I offer it here as a secular concept. I love this language simply for being so expansive. “Already and not yet” is profoundly hopeful, and it refuses to pretend that everything is fine.
No, everything is not okay. Yes, there are good things too. Milestones can be ripe with joy, and reek of yearning, or grief. We have sincere reasons to hope, and they may seem improbably small.
Can these two things—the already and the not yet—be true at the same time? Yes, I think so. More and more, I see this complexity. More and more, I want to grow into it.
Here are a few real-world examples. Each one points to both a positive development and unfinished business—to ground covered and miles ahead.
The list includes:
Covid vaccines
My own half-vaxxed status
Earth Day celebrations
Socially distanced concerts
Seeds planted in a garden
Love planted in children
This relatable conundrum 👇🏼
We are allowed to rest in the both/and of things. When we encounter paradox, competing plausible ideas, a bittersweet moment, a work in progress, or some imperfection, we can pause and take a breath. This does not mean that we forsake our ideals or give up. Rather, resting is how we prepare to cover new ground.
It takes significant energy to resist, brace against, or deny such complexity. I forget this too often, lost as I am in the swirl of my own already, not-yetness.
However, I’d rather save my juice for the work to come—along with, I hope, some play. So, I will try to remember:
Inhale, “already.”
Exhale, “not yet.”
P.S. Mad love to my Christian peeps! I hope you can sense a connection between this secular interpretation and your beliefs. Thank you for sharing some of your language.✌🏼